Self waiting table serving apparatus



Oct. 21, 195$ D. DEL RE SELF WAITING TABLE SERVING APPARATUS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1956 I mu m INVENTOPv 3 Domenic Oe/ Fe Oct.21, 1958 A DUEL RE 2,857,224

SELF WAITING TABLE SERVING APPARATUS ATTORNEY United States Patent SELFWAITING TABLE SERVDTG APPARATUS Domenic Del Re, St. Paul, Minn.

Application October 5, 1956, Serial No. 614,256

4 Claims. (Cl. 311-34) This invention relates to an improvement inserving apparatus and deals particularly with a device useful in theserving of dinners to a number of persons seated about a table.

In the serving of meals to a group of persons seated about a tableconsiderable time and efiort is spent in passing the various dishes offood about the table. Often a person at one end of the table willhesitate to ask for something he desires which is at the opposite end ofthe table. Rather than to ask for what is desired, this person willoften do without rather than to disturb several persons to have theparticular food desired passed.

During recent years it has been common practice to provide on smallertables an apparatus commonly known as a Lazy-Susan which comprises arotatable platform mounted upon a base and upon which various items offood are placed. By rotating the rotatable platform, persons seated atthe table can obtain a particular food or relish without having todisturb others. However, devices of this type are only useful onrelatively small tables as it is necessary that each of the personsseated about the tablebe able to reach the food mounted upon therotatable platform.

It is an object of the present invention toprovide a table whichincludes a movable base which is supported for movement in a straightline from a point near one end of the table to a point near the oppositeend thereof. Upon this base is mounted a rotatable platform capable ofsupporting a considerable quantity of food. The platform is ofsufiicient size so that it may even support a coffee urn or the like ifit is so desired. By placing the food to be served in suitable servingdishes on this rotatable platform, it is possible to serve all of thepersons seated around the table by moving the apparatus longitudinallythereof.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a tablehaving a support for a longitudinally movable base which supports arotatable platform for supporting the food to be served. By moving thebase longitudinally. of the table it can be positioned so that anyoneseated at the table may reach the food upon the tray. By rotating thetray, all of the food mounted thereon is readily accessible.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of ameans of moving the apparatus longitudinally of the table. In theembodiment illustrated, a decorative cord or cable extendslongitudinally of the table and is secured to the base on which therotatable platform is mounted. By pulling upon this rope, or similarflexible means, the apparatus may be moved into any desired position.While not illustrated in the drawings, the cable may also beautomatically moved if it is so desired.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of atable top which may be detachably supported upon a table and which actsto support the apparatus. This table top is foldable in-two or moresections so that it can be easily folded for storage pur- "ice poses. Asa result, the table top may be mounted upon a small table, such as acard table or the like, so that a relatively small table can serve tosupport a relatively large table top and so that a greater number ofpeople can be accommodated. The table top may be made of any suitablematerial such as plywood, hard wood, plastic or sheet aluminum.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table and table top showing ingeneral the arrangement thereof.

Figure 2 is an end elevation view of the apparatus described.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatusshowing the manner of operation thereof.

Figure 4 is an elevation view of the table in the folded conditionthereof.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the carriage or base upon which therotatable tray or platform is mounted.

Figure 6 is a sectional View on a vertical plane longitudinally of theapparatus.

Figure 7 is an elevation view of a portion of the apparatus,the'position of the view being indicated by the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

In the preferred form of construction, the structure includes a tabletop 10 which is-preferably divided into a plurality of sections such as11 and 12. These sections 11 and 12 are connected together by hingessuch as 13 as is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings.When the sections are folded into a common plane, the edges of thesections are in abutting relation.

As is indicated in Figure l of the drawings, the table top 10 ispreferably mounted upon a separate table 14. This table 14 may be of anysuitable type, and may be supported in any suitable manner, this notbeing of importance in the present invention. In the form'illustrated,the table top 10 is mounted upon the top 15 of the table 14. 1

Parallel tracks 16 and 17 are mounted upon the table top section 11extending from the hinged edge 19 thereof to a point spaced from the endedge 20 thereof. A similar pair of tracks 21 and 22 are mounted inparallel spaced relation on the table top section 12, the tracks 21 and22 extending from the hinged edge 23 of the top section 12 to the endedge 24 thereof. The tracks 16 and 21 are aligned as are also the tracks17 and 22.

A platform base or carriage 25 is movably supported upon the table topsections 11 and 12. In the particular arrangement illustrated, the base25 includes a circular ring or hoop 26, a generally oval shaped framemember 27 encircles the ring shaped member 26 and is mounted below thelevel of the upper edge of the'ring 26. Angle brackets 29 are providedfor connecting the ends of the oval frame 27 to the ring 26. Thesebrackets 29 include a downturned end 30 which is secured to the innersurface of the oval ring 27 at the end thereof, a generally horizontalconnecting portion 31 extending inwardly toward the ring 26, and anupwardly extending portion 32 which is secured to the outer surface ofthe ring 26.

A bolt 33 extends through the ring 26 and through the end 32 of thebracket 29 to attach these elements together. The bolt 33 also extendsthrough the inner race of a ball bearing 34 and through a spacing sleeve35, the

bolt 33 extending radially toward the center of the ring 26. Thesebearings 34 form rollers at opposite ends of the frame. Bolts 36 extendthrough the inner races of bearings 37, through spacing sleeve 39, andthrough the ring 26 and the oval shaped frame member 27 at the sides ofthe oval shaped frame. The bolts 36 also extend radially toward thecenter of the ring shaped frame 26 Patented Oct. 21, 8

and act to support the bearings 37 which form rollers arranged atsubstantially 90 to the rollers 34.

The tray 40 which is supported upon the frame is constructed as is bestillustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. The tray includes a generallycircular platform 41 having an upwardly extending flange 42 encirclingthe same. The upper edge of the flange 42 is bent downwardly andoutwardly as indicated at 43 and terminates at an inturned flange 44 ona plane somewhat below the plane of the platform 41.

A ring shaped reinforcing member 45 of wood or other suitable materialunderlies the under portion of the tray body 41 and extends between thisbottom portion 41 and the inturned flange 44. A false bottom 46 ismounted beneath the tray body 41 and includes a central body portion 47having a circular upwardly extending groove 49 which is of properdiameter to rest upon the various bearings 34 and 37. The groove orupward bulge in the false bottom assists in holding the tray alignedwith its support. At the outer extremity of the groove 49 is provided anupwardly and outwardly inclined flange 50 which is bent at 51 to providea downwardly and outwardly inclined flange 52. These flanges 50 and 52with the connecting portion 51 form a deep groove in the undersurface ofthe tray which overlies the circular frame 26 and is held in positionthereby. This groove also tends to locate the groove 49 in properrelation to the supporting bearings 34 and 37.

At the outer periphery of the flange 52, the false bottom is bentupwardly as indicated at 53 to terminate in a horizontal outturnedflange 54 which is fastened to the undersurface of the reinforcing ring45 by screws 55 or other suitable means. Thus, the entire tray isactually supported by the bearings 34 but the groove in which the ringshaped frame 26 is located assists in properly locating the tray andprevents the tray from being forced laterally of the supporting frame inany direction.

The oval frame 27 is provided with a cross brace 56 near each endthereof outwardly of the ring shaped frame 26. Parallel U-shapedbrackets 57 are supported in spaced relation on the cross member 56 atone end of the frame and similar U-shaped brackets 59 are provided onthe cross member 56 at the opposite end of the frame. Rollers 60 aresupported by pivots 61 extending through the brackets 57 and similarrollers 62 are pivotally supported on pivots 63 in the brackets 53. Therollers 60 and 62 at opposite ends of the supporting frame or carriageare longitudinally aligned with respect to the major axis of the ovalframe 27. These rollers are also spaced a distance slightly less thanthe distance between the track sections 16, 17 and 21, 22. As a result,the movement of the carriage is confined to the longitudinal areabetween these spaced track members.

An outwardly bowed bracket 64 is mounted with its ends 65 connected to acorresponding end of the oval frame 27. These brackets 64 are designedto support eye bolts 66 which extend in an axial direction from oppositeends of the frame. These eye bolts are designed to accommodate the traymoving cable in a manner which will be later described.

Figure 2 of the drawings illustrates the manner in which the frame isconfined between the track sections such as 16, 17. Any lateral movementof the tray relative to the longitudinal axis of the tracks is preventedby engagement of the frame with the tracks.

Pulleys 67 and 69 are mounted in suitable pulley housings 70, one ofwhich is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, intermediate the tracksections. A decorative cable such as 71 is provided with suitablefastening means 72 to attach the cable to the eye bolt 66 at one end ofthe frame or carriage. The cable 71 then extends over one pulley 69 andreverses its direction extending through aligned openings 73 and 74 inthe ends of the oval frame 27 and in the cross member 56 respectively.The cable also extends through similar aligned apertures 75 and 76through the cross member 56 and the end of the oval frame 27 at theopposite end of the same. From here the cable extends about the pulley67 and terminates in a fastening means 77 which is attached to the screweye 66 at the opposite end of the supporting frame from that to whichthe fastening means 72 is secured.

By engaging the cable 71, and exerting a pull upon the cable in adesired direction, the carriage or frame 25 may be moved longitudinallyof the table to any desired location. As it reaches its proper locationthe cable may be disengaged and the tray structure may be rotated topermit any of the food or beverages mounted thereon to be dispensed. Atthe completion of the meal or the meal course, the entire tray may beremoved from the base and the food may either be replaced with otherfood or the dishes taken to the kitchen at the completion of the meal.

It may be seen that I have provided a novel and effective serving deviceby means of which any of the occupants of a table may be served. It willbe noted that as they tray may be moved by anyone at the table, it isnot necessary to disturb others in order to get access to any of thefood upon the tray. At the completion of the meal, the tray and carriagemay be removed from the table, and the table top maybe folded if desiredfor storage purposes.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in serving apparatus,and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, Idesire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scopeof the following claims without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

1. A serving device for use upon a table top and including a generallycircular frame, a series of bearings pivotally supported on pivotsextending substantially radially with respect to said frame, saidbearings projecting inwardly from said frame, and a tray including abottom portion resting on said bearings and supported thereby, said trayhaving an upwardly extending flange thereupon engageable within saidcircular frame.

2. A serving device including a frame having a circular frame member, aseries of pivots extending inwardly in a generally radial direction fromsaid circular frame member, bearings on said pivots, said bearings beingbelow the level of the upper surface of said circular frame member, anda tray having a disc shaped bottom resting upon said bearings, and anupwardly and outwardly inclined flange extending about said disc shapedbottom and engaging inwardly of said circular frame member.

3. The construct-ion described in claim 2 and in which the tray includesa portion extending outwardly from the inclined flange to overlie saidframe.

4. The construction described in claim 3 and in which said frameincludes supporting wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

